THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SU's Josh Pace (5) drives the lane against Georgetown's Mike Sweetney on Monday. SU was outrebounded (47-22) again, but it was Georgetown's 10-2 run in the second half that sealed SU's third loss in four games.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (Tuesday, January 29, 2002) -- Preston Shumpert just might opt for no goggles next time out.

After all, the kind of game the Syracuse University men's basketball team offered Monday night was, well, it was something he wouldn't want to see again.

The ugliness was all over No. 14 SU, as was Georgetown in a 75-60 upset victory.

Shumpert, a senior, wore the goggles after an old eye injury flared up. But it didn't help his shooting and it didn't stop the Hoyas from getting the kind of quality win they'll need to stay in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth.

Kevin Braswell had 16 points, 6 steals and 5 assists to lead Georgetown.

Mike Sweetney added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Hoyas (4-4 Big East, 13-7) who had been 0-6 against teams currently ranked in the Top 25.

"It's important for us to be able to say we beat a team like Syracuse," said Georgetown coach Craig Esherick, who beefed up the nonconference schedule after a disappointing NCAA seeding last year. "I looked at the Top 25 yesterday, and there's a whole lot of teams that we've played. We've played a tough schedule, and when you have eight underclassmen, there's going to be some inconsistencies."

The Orangemen (6-2, 17-5), however were hardly a quality-looking opponent Monday night as they lost for the third time in four games.

Shumpert, the Big East's second leading scorer, played just 19 minutes -- including just one minute in the second half. He scored three points on 1-for-5 shooting, his lowest output since the third game of his sophomore year.

Shumpert scratched the cornea in his right eye during a loss to Pittsburgh last year in the semifinals of the Big East tournament. Although the injury has bothered him periodically, this was the first time he wore goggles in a game.

Coach Jim Boeheim said the eye was swollen shut when Shumpert woke up Sunday morning.

"Before the game, he really couldn't see out of it, but he thought he could go," Boeheim said. "We need him out there. He was in more pain at halftime. It flared up, and I just didn't think he could go anymore... . I don't think a good player should be playing when he can't see. Obviously without him, we're not the same team."

The Orangemen also missed eight straight free throws and were just 8 of 18 from the line for the game. They made just five baskets outside the paint and were badly outrebounded (47-22) for the fourth consecutive game.

"We have a problem there, there's no question about it," Boeheim said. "This team's bigger and stronger than we are, and we've got to find a way to get a few more rebounds to be competitive."

DeShaun Williams scored 13 points to lead the Orangemen, who fell into a tie with Pittsburgh for first place in the Big East's West Division.